NetNewsLedger Verified Facts
Toronto – Medical Officer Says City has Learned from 2009 SARS and Apply Lessons to Coronavirus
Ontario Confirms Second Presumptive Case
Statement from Federal Minister of Health Patty Hajdu
Coronavirus Update – January 26, 2020 – China Says 56 Dead
Coronavirus – Confirmed Case in Ontario
Ontario Creates Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Website
China Faces “Grave Situation” – President Xi
The Chinese City of Wuhan is on Lockdown today as China continues to work to contain Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV). The reported death toll remains at 82. Chinese officials are reporting a man died of the virus in the capital city of Beijing today.
There are two new cases of the virus reported in New Hampshire.
Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) has caused the Government of China to extend the New Year’s national new holiday by three days to Sunday, February 1, 2020 in an attempt to contain the spread. Residents of Wuhan who are out of the country are telling NNL that they may not be allowed to return until mid-February.
International Response
Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and colleagues arrived in Beijing on Monday, in efforts to understand the latest developments and strengthen partnership, particularly for response against the respiratory disease.
In a message posted on Twitter, he said the UN agency also is working with countries everywhere to activate their response systems.
Coronaviruses are a large family of respiratory viruses that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to the Middle-East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
Novel coronavirus was first identified earlier this month in Wuhan, a city in central China. So far, 80 people have died, according to the latest WHO situation report published on Monday.
There have been 2,798 confirmed cases of the disease globally, 2,741 of which were in China. Thirty-seven cases have been reported in 11 other countries, 36 of which had a travel history to China, and 34 related to travel in Wuhan.
WHO said its strategic objectives during the outbreak include limiting human-to-human transmission and identifying patients early.
“Understanding the time when infected patients may transmit the virus to others is critical for control efforts,” the agency report said.
Current estimates for the incubation period range from 2-10 days, but this information will be refined as more data becomes available.
As the transmission of novel coronavirus appears similar to that for MERS and SARS, WHO has recommended basic principles such as avoiding close contact with those suffering from acute respiratory infections, frequent handwashing, and enhanced infection prevention practices in healthcare facilities.
Canada
Minister of Health Patty Hajdu reports, “Today, Ontario indicated that they have identified a second case. Both patients are isolated and are in care. The risk to Canadians remains low.”
In the Canadian Parliament, the federal Conservative Party has called on the government to immediately recall the House of Commons’ health committee to receive briefings from officials on Canada’s response to the outbreak of the coronavirus.
“It is important as parliamentarians to be briefed as soon as possible so Canadians can have all the facts and can have their questions and concerns answered,” said Matt Jeneroux, the Shadow Minister of Health.
“While the government has said the risk remains low in Canada, Canadians want to know what is being done at the border to ensure infected individuals are being identified, what is being done to help Canadians currently in China and what are the federal government’s responsibilities and next steps in addressing a potential outbreak.”
A motion to have the Clerk of the House convene a meeting of the health committee by Wednesday, January 29 received unanimous consent.
Currently, there are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Canada, both are in Ontario.
Republic of Korea
The World Health Organization reports: “On 20 January 2020, National IHR Focal Point (NFP) for the Republic of Korea reported the first case of novel coronavirus in the Republic of Korea. The case is a 35-year-old female, Chinese national, residing in Wuhan, Hubei province in China.
“The case-patient had developed fever, chill, and muscle pain on 18 January while in Wuhan. She visited a local hospital in Wuhan and was initially diagnosed with a cold. On 19 January, the case-patient was detected with fever (38.3 °C) upon arrival at the Incheon International Airport. The case-patient was transferred to a national designated isolation hospital for testing and treatment. She was tested positive for pancoronavirus reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay, and subsequently was confirmed positive for novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) on 20 January by sequencing at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Upon detection, the patient had chills, runny nose, and muscle pain.
“The case-patient did not report visiting any markets, including Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market, nor did she have known contact with confirmed 2019-nCoV cases or wild animals in Wuhan city.”
Social Media
Meanwhile, at another drug store… pic.twitter.com/D2ZoM9VEhK
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 27, 2020
Hand sanitizer stuff in Toronto: kind of hard to find today. pic.twitter.com/pInU7pZKWW
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 27, 2020
— Wuhan CoronaVirus News (@CoronaVirusFlu) January 28, 2020
